We typically like to stay out of sports but professional wrestling walks that fine line of athleticism and entertainment more readily than any other industry. Plus it's hard not to pay homage to our video store heritage without acknowledging the pivotal role that renting Wrestlemania VHS tapes every weekend played into the bygone movie rental era. Enough rationalizing, here's our extensive breakdown of the Best and Worst Wrestlemanias of All Time.
#40. Wrestlemania IX
Highlight: Bobby Heenan trying to ride a Camel
Lowlight: Hogan's 20 second impromptu match to win the World Title
It's one thing to have a Wrestlemania without any matches that really land with the audience but Wrestlemania IX's card is nearly start to finish full of abject failures. Never mind the cheesy Roman theme with cheap sets and costumes, the matches almost all end terribly. First Shawn Michaels wins in a bizarre countout that catches the announcers and crowd off guard as the ref seems to just be putting an end to a match that's running way over on time (at 18 minutes, it's second in length only to Hogan here), Doink gets a W by bringing out a second Doink who attacks Crush with a prosthetic arm, and the narcissist Lex Luger beats Mr. Perfect while Perfect's feet are clearly on the ropes. Then there's Giant Gonzalez, who sells every strike he takes from the Undertaker worse than anyone I've ever seen in the ring (Jay Leno included). The match seems to finally be put out of it's misery when The Undertaker is taken out on a stretcher due to Giant covering the Undertaker's mouth with a chloroform rag but of course, The Undertaker comes back out to the ring and beats on the 8' goon dressed in a horrifically air brushed spandex onesie for a little longer. But the worst part of Wrestlemania IX is how egomaniac Hulk Hogan just refused to let go of the spotlight. The Brett Favre of professional wrestling was thought to be retiring for an acting career several times but Wrestlemania IX was supposed to be his final farewell; if there even is such a thing in pro wrestling. After strutting in the ring for 10 minutes after losing in a baffling finish with Money Inc, a hideously black-eyed Hogan (an injury that's never explained, along with his tag partner Beefcake who wears a luchador mask to conceal his injuries) runs out to the ring at the conclusion of Yokozuna and Bret Hart's WWF main event title match to challenge Yokozuna to an impromptu title defense right there on the spot. Yokozuna loses the belt in 20 seconds and Hogan gets to close his 6th Wrestlemania as WWF champion while infantilizing Bret Hart in the process. Woof.
#39. Wrestlemania XXXIII
Highlight: ---
Lowlight: Randy Orton v.s. Bray Wyatt
I honestly don't have a highlight for this one. It was kinda cool to see the Hardy Boyz return, I guess? And seeing Kevin Owens take on one of his childhood idols in Chris Jericho wasn't too shabby. But those are essentially the only bright spots. Oh and Seth Rollins v.s. Triple H. That was decent. Outside of that we get The New Day, one of the previous year's lone highlights, relegated to merely hosting the event. Another Shane McMahon match with yet ANOTHER recreation of his coast to coast dropkick. One of the worst gimmicks in pro wrestling history as Bray Wyatt projected videos of maggots and cock roaches onto the ring to fReAk oUt his opponent Randy Orton (who ultimately just delivered an RKO and beat him anyways). The Wrestlemania XX rematch nobody asked for between Goldberg and Brock Lesnar (which lasts all of 4 minutes). And then you have THE WORST main event in Wrestlemania history as The Undertaker takes his second career WM loss at the hands of the universally despised Roman Reigns. Taker, Reigns and the crowd all seem entirely disinterested in this match and it's hard to tell who wants to be there less. Cena got his fair share of resentment from the crowd due to his rapid rise to prominence but he never seem to let it defeat him the way Roman does. You can see it seep into Reigns' body language, punctuated with the resentful side eyes he shoots at the crowd. And yet this is who the WWE chose to allegedly end the Undertaker's career? It's no wonder the dead man came back a year later...
#38. Wrestlemania XXXII
Highlight: The Inaugural WWE Women's Championship
Lowlight: The Rock v.s. Eric Rowan
After some genuinely shocking results in the previous two years, Wrestlemania XXXII suffers from terrible booking decisions, predictable results, and a thinned out roster due to injury that sees some of the company's biggest stars of recent years (Seth Rollins, Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton) all excluded from this year's card. The inaugural WWE Woman's Championship match feels like the only bought of any significance, as it finally injects some integrity into the Women's division but after that, this 5 hour show is an absolute chore to finish. The opening 7 man ladder match reverts to everyone lying on the ground outside the ring while competitors take turns going 1 on 1, Dean Ambrose has no chance against Brock Lesnar, and even worse is Shane McMahon's inexplicable return to Wrestlemania to fight the Undertaker for 30 minutes in Hell in a Cell. Why is one of WWE's most decorated Superstars even entertaining the possibility that there's a chance in hell that Shane could survive with him in the ring? Even Shane's suicide dive off the top of the cell can't make up for it. Then there's another half hour promo for the Rock to strut around and beat up on one of Bray Wyatt's creepy sidekicks in a 6 second impromptu match as well as a weird dance party with The New Day (whose entrance alone might have been one of the only redeeming factors here) and Stone Cold, HBK, and Mick Foley meeting in the ring. It's all capped off with Triple H's 7th main event at Wrestlemania (more than Cena, Rock, or The Undertaker) as he desperately tries to sell Roman Reigns as the future of the company while the crowd is overtly rooting against him with "Roman sucks" chants.
#37. Wrestlemania XXIII
Highlight: Money in the Bank III
Lowlight: Eugene's Backstage Dance Party
Wrestlemania 23 is headlined by yet another attempt to bolster the legacy of John Cena by pitting him against an industry staple but this time instead of HHH, it's HBK. And just like the previous year, the crowd is reluctant to accept Cena's win and ends up siding with his opponent once again. Money in the Bank is the best WM23 has to offer with yet another stunning ladder exhibition from Jeff Hardy but after that, this is one of the weakest Wrestlemanias there is. Also on the bright side we get a nice, albeit short-lived, tribute to ECW as well as solid singles exhibition between Batista and The Undertaker. But The Great Khali and Kane look absolutely immobile in their sloppy showdown and the Umaga v.s. Bobby Lashley match would be without any intrigue whatsoever had the stakes of Donald Trump's hair pitted against Vince McMahon's not been added. Vince has a bad habit of wasting spots at Wrestlemania on his family and friends and this is one of the most egregious offenses there is. Plus, knowing what a sore loser Trump is, it's pretty obvious that he was never in any real danger of losing this match. Even if we get a consolatory Stone Cold Stunner on the Don in the aftermath. But nothing has aged worse than the embarrassing backstage dance party lead by Eugene and Cryme Tyme. Eugene is one of the cringiest characters in the WWE's history - which is saying something given their problematic track record. To quote Farooq, "DAMN."
#36. Wrestlemania XXXVI
Highlight: Kevin Owens v.s. Seth Rollins
Lowlight: Firefly Funhouse Match
You ever wonder what Wrestlemania would be like without any of the glitzy production pageantry or frenzied crowds cheering on their favorite superstars? It's fucking weird. Having superstars strut and yell to an empty arena while grunting at one another during an otherwise silent brawl in the ring is beyond bizarre. It's like removing the atmosphere around the Superbowl and trying to recreate the game in a vacated YMCA with a camera crew. As the first major live event to take place during the COVID-19 pandemic, this was destined to be unlike any other Wrestlemania before but it's hard to get passed just how much the atmosphere plays into what makes a Wrestlemania so great. Splitting the event into 2 nights definitely makes for a breezier viewing experience compared to the 6 hour marathons Wrestlemania's grown into. But the action in the ring wasn't all that compelling regardless, with both the Universal and WWE titles changing hands in less than 7 minutes COMBINED. And the cinematic pre-taped Boneyard and Firefly Funhouse matches were laughably absurd. WWE delivered a passable pay per view given the circumstances but in the grand scope of Westlemania history, this one will largely be better off forgotten. Although Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins did a hell of a job utilizing the empty arena to produce a solid no disqualification match.
#35. Wrestlemania VII
Highlight: "Macho Man" Randy Savage v.s. The Ultimate Warrior
Lowlight: The Entire Gulf War Propaganda Angle
In a lame and frankly shameful attempt to cash in on American patriotism during the Gulf War, Wrestlemania VII's entire premise revolves around "Real American" Hulk Hogan having to "throw all the rules out the window and do whatever it takes to win" against U.S. traitor and Iraqi sympathizer Sgt. Slaughter. It's a terrible look for the company and Slaughter's such a cartoonish goon, going as far as to cover Hogan with the Iraqi flag in the ring during an attempted pinfall (which of course Hogan proceeds to shred as if it were one of his yellow Hulkamania tank tops). But apart from being an icky storyline with as obvious an ending as there's ever been, it also takes the main event away from the intended Ultimate Warrior / Hogan rematch that should have been spotlighted here instead. Warrior still gets the match of the night in his "retirement" match with "Macho Man" Randy Savage, who has an emotional reunion with Elizabeth in the ring before bidding farewell (only to win the heavyweight title a year later at Wrestlemania VIII). Aside from that, the rest of the card is pretty dreadful. Particularly Legion of Doom's Wrestlemania debut lasting less than a minute, Jake "The Snake" Roberts and Rick Martel fumbling around the ring in a blindfold match (which is just as ridiculous as it sounds) and the lame ass Mountie getting a 90 second win over Tito Santana. Plus there's an interview with each contestant before every single match, dragging things out even more so - the worst of which are delivered by celebrity guests Regis Philbin and Alex Trebek who are as out of place as you might think.
#34. Wrestlemania XXXVII
Highlight: Kevin Owens v.s. Sami Zayn
Lowlight: Randy Orton v.s. "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt
After spending a year without live fans in the stands, Wrestlemania XXXVII brought the crowds back into Tampa to assume their rightful place in the WWE Universe, booing the Universal Champion and chanting "Roman Sucks" after an otherwise solid main event ends with a disappointing thud as Edge and Daniel Bryan's return to top billing are ruined by another lame Roman Reigns victory. Kevin Owens continues to be the undercard hero of Wrestlemania as his match with Sami Zayn stood out as the highlight of both nights. Bad Bunny also had a pretty impressive in-ring debut as well (maybe the best ever for a celebrity-turned wrestler?). But the rest of the booking was pretty suspect. After winning the largest titles in the company a year ago, both Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman get dumped in peculiar fashion. McIntyre losing due to a stupid ringside distraction followed by a full nelson knock out while the massive Braun Strowman got stuck with this year's obligatory Shane McMahon match (with yet another obligatory coast to coast dropkick). And outside of Kofi's title win, The New Day continues to take embarrassing losses at Wrestlemania, this time thanks to a stoic giant named Omos manhandling New Day in a matter of seconds. But the worst came from the rematch nobody asked for, Randy Orton v.s. Bray Wyatt II, with Orton yet again ending Wyatt's cheap haunted house pSyChe OuT technique with an abrupt RKO finish.
#33. Wrestlemania V
Highlight: "Mr.Perfect" Curt Henning v.s. "The Blue Blazer" Owen Hart
Lowlight: The Longest Piper's Pit in Recorded History
The long awaited showdown between Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan at the epicenter of Wrestlemania V sadly doesn't quite live up to the hype, as most of the match is drawn out by the unnecessary Miss Elizabeth subplot and there isn't much energy exuded from either superstar until Hogan starts "Hulk"ing out after being elbow dropped by Savage. But it doesn't help matters that the rest of the card is so uneventful either. The only real highlights come from the Wrestlemania debuts of Curt Henning, Owen Hart and Shawn Michaels. Jesse Ventura's commentary is starting to become grating and Roddy Piper's excruciatingly long Piper's Pit with Brother Love (who's definitely in the running for one of WWE's worst characters of all time) and a chain smoking Morton Downey Jr. halts any momentum the show might have had only about halfway through the event. I love Piper but his Piper's Pit segments have not aged well AT ALL and definitely don't deserve to be showcased at Wrestlemania. But then again neither do The Red Rooster, The Honky Tonk Man, or Dino Bravo. The card is incredibly top heavy, especially given the only undercard names ending their matches in unsatisfying fashion - Jake Roberts v.s. Andre the Giant ends in DQ while Ted DiBiase's 10 minute brawl with Brutus Beefcake concludes with a double count out. Lame.
#32. Wrestlemania XV
Highlight: Triple H v.s. Kane
Lowlight: The Brawl For All
With so much quality content being produced on Monday Night Raw and Smackdown on a week to week basis at this point in the WWF, Wrestlemania XV feels fairly insignificant by comparison. D-Generation X is spread out over way too many matches and while Triple H's brawl with Kane was probably the most impressive event of the evening, seeing Hunter's turn against DX leading to their eventual demise was a massive bummer. Especially with Billy Gunn and X-Pac both losing their respective championship belts (Gunn as the Hardcore Champion and X-Pac the European Champ), the latter of which was at the hands of Shane-O-Mac. Yuck. Austin v.s. Rock was also a huge letdown, with more drama surrounding who got to be the special guest referee than the match itself. Given their legendary stature, Steve Austin and The Rock do a surprisingly poor job of selling the match with obvious flubs aplenty. Luckily they got to redeem themselves a couple years later. The Undertaker's Ministry of Darkness phase was pretty ridiculous but never more so than when he ended his Hell in a Cell match against Big Moss Man by literally hanging him with a noose in the center of the ring. Sable's even worse though, as her single's match basically consists of more gyrating around the ring than actually wrestling. But even worse still is the Brawl for All boxing crossover gimmick where Bart Gunn fails to last more than 30 seconds in the ring with Butterbean before being knocked out. Duh.
#31. Wrestlemania XXXVIII
Highlight: AJ Styles v.s. Edge
Lowlight: Pat McAfee vs Austin Theory (and then Vince McMahon)
I'm sure it'll never happen but Wrestlemania really needs to scale things back to just a single night. There was a lot of fat that could have been trimmed from Wrestlemania 38 as WWE seemed to really struggle filling out 7 hours of content (which is admittedly a bit much). Speaking of "a bit much", Pat McAfee kicking off Night 1 by jumping on the announcer's table to play air guitar like a coked out frat boy and then occupying the worst celebrity crossover match(es) of both nights (of which there were FIVE total) just to set up another hometown Stone Cold curtain call was definitely the lowlight of the show. But it didn't help that Vince McMahon looks like a wax statue of himself and Austin's stunner on McMahon might have been the worst he's ever delivered. Johnny Knoxville and Sami Zayn injected some fun with their pseudo prop comedy routine, although it's not nearly as violent as I anticipated. I can't understand why The New Day continues to get squashed at Wrestlemania as they were discarded in just about 1:40 this go around while Triple H got to spend 10 minutes flexing for appreciation after announcing his in-ring retirement earlier in the week. The best matches were either AJ Styles and Edge with their phenomenal 20 minute technical showcase or Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey's title match; although the referee effecting the outcome of the latter did damper things quite a bit. Overall it was an incredibly inconsistent show as the company spends way too much time commemorating stars of year's past like Undertaker, Triple H and Stone Cold while failing to make any new names. Outsourcing your show's personality to C-list celebrities isn't a long term plan for success here guys. The closest thing to a Wrestlemania moment we got was Jason "Wee Man" Acuna body slamming Sami Zayn. And I can't believe they really thought anyone wanted to see Brock Lesnar v.s. Roman Reigns for an unprecedented THIRD FUCKING TIME in the main event.
#30. Wrestlemania XX
Highlight: Christian v.s. Chris Jericho
Lowlight: Goldberg v.s. Brock Lesnar
With the perplexing tagline of "It All Begins...Again" WWE set out to evolve into a new era with Wrestlemania XX but unfortunately, it's future was entrusted with 2 World Champions that tragically didn't live passed Wrestlemania XXIII. We also get another botched shooting star press (this time courtesy of Billy Kidman), a slow and downright boring Wrestlemania debut for Goldberg against Brock Lesnar (which the crowd seems to be actively rooting against from the second it starts), an ugly sloppy rematch between Kane and the Undertaker, ring side interviews with Jesse Ventura and Donald Trump discussing their political futures, an uncomfortably long head shaving of Molly Holly, and the wasted return of the Rock and Sock connection just to lose at the hands of Randy Orton and Batista. At a whopping 4.5 hours the crowd is restless and borderline comatose for much of the event. Plus, the manufactured Smackdown vs Raw rivalry creates way too many championships and none of the WCW vs WWF tension it's so desperately trying to recreate. Christian and Jericho have the match of the night but John Cena nearly steals the show in the opener (despite his cringey white boy rapping) after body slamming the massive Big Show TWICE. Plus Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit's aforementioned title wins are pretty stellar, even though their reigns in the company are tragically short-lived.
#29. Wrestlemania XXII
Highlight: Edge v.s. Mick Foley
Lowlight: Shawn Michaels v.s. Vince McMahon
Aside from another solid Money in the Bank match (which sees Ric Flair's old ass suplexed off of a ladder) the only real highlight for Wrestlemania 22 is the insane hardcore match between Edge and Mick Foley. Foley is a wrestling legend but he never really got a Wrestlemania moment before this and by god did this encapsulate Foley's hardcore legacy to perfection. Thumb tacks, barbed wire and a flaming spear through a table for the final 3 count culminates in one of the most memorable matches in Wrestlemania history. Other than that though we've got a dude whose gimmick is putting worms in his mouth stalking Booker T and Booker's wife (who he also kisses with said worms in mouth), Vince (with even more HGH, bronzer and a literal cheer squad of sidekicks) wastes another Mania match pitting himself against Shawn Michaels, another Playboy pillow fight where one of the girls uses her purse dog as a weapon, and Rey Mysterio winning a World Heavy Weight Championship belt larger than his entire torso. Don't get me wrong, I love Rey Mysterio but it's hard to buy him as a formidable opponent to physical specimens like Kurt Angle and Randy Orton at the top of their game. Let alone beating them BOTH in a triple threat title match. We're also treated to more of John Cena's rapid ascent as an indestructible baby face who has now stolen the Crippler Crossface as his new finisher and seems to be resented by the audience by how little he's had to struggle to climb to the top of the company.
#28. Wrestlemania XI
Highlight: Shawn Michaels v.s. "Diesel" Kevin Nash
Lowlight: All the 90's ass Celebrities
After Wrestlemania X established a new generation of stars, Wrestlemania XI totally mismanages the roster in remarkable fashion. Following the awesome ladder match from a year ago, Scott Hall gets dumped into an opening match against Jeff Jarrett and wins in an anti-climatic disqualification due to the Road Dogg interfering almost identically to the fashion in which their match earlier that year ended. King Kong Bundy doesn't have much of anything to offer up against The Undertaker and Bret Hart's "I Quit" match with Bob Backlund is also pretty flat and uneventful. The whole event seems way too centered around the collection of 90's ass celebrities like Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Jenny McCarthy, Pamela Anderson and some dude from NYPD Blue. Then you have Lawrence Taylor in the main event (which has to be considered one of the worst main events in Mania history) begging the question of how much more Vince paid these celebrities to show up for Wrestlemania XI than any of the actual wrestlers. However, once again, Michaels stole the spotlight in an excellent title match against Kevin Nash and provides the lone highlight of Wrestlemania XI.
#27. Wrestlemania XL
Highlight: AJ Styles v.s. LA Knight
Lowlight: Hosting 2 of the top 5 longest matches in Wrestlemania history
Outside of Damien Priest cashing in his Money in the Bank title shot to end Drew McIntyre's world title reign in 10 seconds and the barrage of inevitable run-ins during the "Bloodline Rules" main event, attempting to elevate the excitement for the Cody v.s. Roman WM39 rematch (which brought in everyone from the Usos to John Cena to Shield Era Seth Rollins to The Rock to The Undertaker) - the first Wrestlemania of the Triple H era, while lacking any major missteps, also didn't have a lot of surprises either. In fact, you can pretty much skip the entirety of night 1. I swear I heard "didn't get all of it, but he got enough" from the announcers describing missed spots on night 1 more times than I saw Prime hydration ads. Which is a fuck ton because the product placement has gotten ridiculous. The six pack tag team ladder match was probably the biggest disappointment as yet again, the event turned into a series of 1 on 1 exchanges while the other 10 contestants lie on the ground outside of the ring. And the night 1 main event lasting longer than any other main event outside of WM12's Iron Man match was totally overkill. The clear highlight for both nights was the Wrestlemania debut of crowd favorite LA Knight against AJ Styles. Although Kevin Owens v.s. Randy Orton vs. Logan Paul wasn't too far behind, that is until Paul won. Yawn. Mostly Wrestlemania XL served as a palette cleanser as the WWE attempts to turn a new leaf both in leadership and talent. Turning the page on both Vince McMahon and Roman Reigns, you can feel the WWE Universe breathe a collective sigh of relief watching Reigns' absurd 1,316 day title run (in which he only defended the belt 31 times) thankfully come to it's long overdue conclusion.
#26. Wrestlemania I
Highlight: The Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff v.s. The U.S. Express
Lowlight: The Piss Poor Production Quality
The inaugural Wrestlemania is littered with needless celebrity appearances, especially in the main event which calls to the ring ex-Yankees manager Billy Martin as a guest ring announcer, Liberace as the guest time keeper (accompanied by the Rockettes), Muhammad Ali as the guest referee (who doesn't actually stay in the ring) and of course Mr. T as Hulk Hogan's tag partner. But the fact that Hogan doesn't actually defend his World Title at Wrestlemania definitely holds the event back as does the bare bones ring entrances, dark and dingy arena, and painfully dated production quality. In fact, there's such an emphasis on the managers and celebrities outside the ring, that the performers inside the ring seem fairly interchangeable by comparison. But the voice talents of Gorilla Monsoon, Jesse Ventura and "Mean" Gene Okerlund beautifully sell the proceedings as the monumental landmark it's billed as, despite less than memorable matches taking place. And while it's great to see Andre the Giant foil Big John Studd and Bobby Heenan capped by Andre tossing Heenan's cash into the crowd, stereotypical heels Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik deliver the match of the night in unexpectedly thwarting The U.S. Express for the Tag Team title belts. The rest of the event however, is sadly pretty forgettable.
#25. Wrestlemania XXVII
Highlight: Triple H v.s. The Undertaker
Lowlight: Jerry Lawler v.s. Michael Cole
Wrestlemania XXVII looked like it might be finally starting to build up some new superstars with a handful of fresh faces getting shots at both World titles but that potential is squashed in the main event when the mystery around why The Rock has been brought back to Wrestlemania just to host the event rather than compete is finally revealed. And no, it's not to interview Pee Wee Herman, which does for some reason actually happen. It's to build up the main event for NEXT YEAR's Wrestlemania where the Rock will return to face John Cena. It's one of the worst endings to a Wrestlemania there is as the main event initially ends in a countout, only for The Rock to restart the match and hand a victory to The Miz by delivering a Rock Bottom to Cena. Add in an unbearably long match between Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler as well as Vickie Guerrero and Snooki in the penultimate match of the night and you've got a pretty dumpy Wrestlemania. CM Punk continues to make a habit out of stealing the show as his match with Randy Orton as well as HHH v.s. The Undertaker stand out above all else here. But that's not saying a whole lot...
#24. Wrestlemania VI
Highlight: "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase v.s. Jake "The Snake" Roberts
Lowlight: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper in (half) Blackface
Packing 15 matches into Wrestlemania IV for the vacated Heavyweight title tournament was one thing but keeping that length intact for the next 3 Wrestlemania's was overkill. Especially here at VI where there's also an over abundance of interviews and an unbearable in ring performance of "Hunka Hunka Hunka Honkey Love" from the Honkey Tonk Man that seems to last foooooorrrreeeeeevurrrrr. Even the main event, as great a spectacle as it is to see the Ultimate Warrior finally dethrone Hullk Hogan on the industry's largest stage, drags on way too long with much of it's 24 minute runtime eaten up by overly long holds and grapples serving as extensive opportunities for the two superstars to endlessly flex their biceps at the crowd more than actually wrestle one another. But Warrior's infectious energy makes up for the less than perfect match and his win over Hogan feels monumental. We also get Jake "The Snake" in a match where he finally isn't just waiting around to pull his snake out, against Ted DiBiase in what may be the match of the night (despite Jesse Ventura taking more interest in the crowd doing the wave during the match - the dude is enamored). But the lowlight here is "Rowdy" Roddy Piper deciding to make his Wrestlemania return with half of his body painted black in a match against Bad News Brown. On the lighter side though, Piper's black body paint job was so thorough that he couldn't fully scrub it off for 3 weeks after the event - causing him to be stopped at airport security on numerous occasions.
#23. Wrestlemania XXXIX
Highlight: Bianca Belair v.s. Asuka
Lowlight: Shane McMahon blowing out his knee after 20 seconds of in-ring action
As the first Wrestlemania without Vince McMahon's direct involvement (allegedly anyways...) it almost seemed like a new era was being ushered into the WWE after the spectacular night 1 card. Climaxing brilliantly with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn ending the 2 year run of The Uso Brothers' tag team title reign, almost everything about Saturday Night of Wrestlemania outshined Sunday (the ring rust of Lita and John Cena being the two exceptions). Saturday had better performances, better booking and more satisfying outcomes; yet it was all derailed by Sunday which saw Gunther retain his IC title (which he'd held for almost a year at that point), Hell in a Cell cut short due to Finn Balor taking a ladder to the skull, and most crushing of all, Roman Reigns retaining his undisputed world title for the 945th day in a row - becoming the 1st superstar in history to defend the same title for 3 consecutive years at Wrestlemania. There isn't a superstar in the modern era whose gotten this much of an overwhelming push and yet Roman's Reign (as "historically unprecedented" as it might be) marks the most boring stretch of the company's history. The main event's labored 34 minute exchange of finishing maneuvers, way too many superkicks and obnoxious run-ins was pretty awful, especially considering the way Roman had another win handed to him thanks to interference. Just when you think WWE is about to turn a corner, they revert back to the same old shit that's kept the company stuck treading the waters of mediocrity for the last eight years. And yet maybe even more embarrassing than WWE jamming another Roman victory down our throats to sustain this "Head of the Table" tribal chief bullshit excuse for a personality is the fact that WWE couldn't pull any better celebrities to utilize for their "Goes Hollywood" theme other than Logan Paul, Pat McAfee and Shane McMahon - who blew out his knee almost instantaneously after challenging The Miz to an impromptu match.
#22. Wrestlemania XXXI
Highlight: Seth Rollins cashing in his Money in the Bank title shot
Lowlight: Rusev v.s. John Cena
Well Wrestlemania XXX may have had some major surprises up it's sleeves but it's got nothing on Seth Rollins cashing in his Money in the Bank title shot after Brock Lesnar spent the majority of this year's main event literally slapping Roman Reigns around the ring. But spending 4 hours on just 7 matches made the overall pace of this Mania pretty grating. Especially the drawn out confrontation between The Rock & Ronda Rousey v.s. Triple H & Stephanie McMahon considering the proposed match never comes to fruition. And while the quick zoom cameras are finally toned down, the product placement has reached a fever pitch with a literal WWE action figure commercial implanted in the proceedings, the ring announcers each clutching 20 oz Mountain Dew bottles, Jimmy Johns logos stitched into Brock Lesnar's trunks and Triple H's trademark theatrical entrance turning into a full on Terminator: Genisys commercial. It was cool to see Sting finally make it to Wrestlemania but let's be honest, it's a decade too late. And as much as I loved seeing NWO take on DX, is everyone just ignoring the fact that Sting spent most of his WCW career fighting against Hogan and the NWO? Also, why the hell did they dump Daniel Bryan into the opening match a year after his unprecedented win at Wrestlemania XXX? But the lowlight comes from the over the top Russian stereotype Rusev in a slow and predictable match against U.S. propaganda machine John Cena. Of fucking course John Cena's going to take the U.S. title from a Russian villain at Wrestlemania. The unthinkable finish here from Seth Rollins is what saves Wrestlemania XXXI.
#21. Wrestlemania II
Highlight: WWF v.s. NFL Battle Royal
Lowlight: The Fabulous Moolah v.s. Velvet McIntyre
With a much improved production quality and an even deeper roster of celebrity guests (including Joan Rivers, Daryl Dawkins, Cab Calloway, Mr. T, Ozzy Osbourne, Tommy Lasorda, Elvira, and "Refrigerator" Perry leading a slew of NFL stars in the WWF v.s. NFL Battle Royal) Wrestlemania 2 is a much better at-home viewing product, even if it runs way too long trying to fill the time with drawn out Vince McMahon couch interviews stalling for time as we cycle through the 3 different cities hosting portions of the event. Housing matches in 3 different locations was a clunky cash grab and one that thankfully, McMahon never tried again. Mr.T's return to Wrestlemania is also way too drawn out after delivering a pretty solid boxing match with Roddy Piper, the bought ends with an unsatisfying disqualification. Hogan's main event inside a steel cage with King Kong Bundy definitely bolster's Hulkamania's legacy but the highlight for me was the WWF v.s. NFL Battle Royal even though "The Fridge" went through most of it with an uncomfortable looking onesie wedgie. Breakout stars like Randy Savage, George "The Animal" Steele, Jake "The Snake" and The British Bulldog add some much needed depth to the card which was sorely missing in Wrestlemania's debut.
#20. Wrestlemania XXXV
Highlight: Randy Orton v.s. AJ Styles
Lowlight: Elias v.s. John Cena
Much like Wrestlemania XXXIV before it, XXXV starts out decent enough but as the longest Pay-Per-View in WWE history, it just can't sustain the quality AJ Styles and Randy Orton set in the early going. But opening the show with a 3 minute dethroning of Brock Lesnar as the Universal Champion was a pretty bizarre choice as well, so the beginning isn't without it's flaws either. Shane McMahon and The Miz deliver a surprisingly entertaining falls count anywhere match making good use of the venue while the 4 way tag matches in both men's and women's divisions are also incredible showcases for just how deep WWE's roster has become. Kofi Kingston's title win is emotional no doubt but it may be the smallest WWE title match in WM history with both Kofi and "The New" Daniel Bryan measuring under 6' tall and seemingly look shorter than the match's referee. Rey Mysterio's return and Kurt Angle's farewell are frustratingly short and while the first Women's Main Event at Wrestlemania mostly lives up to the billing, the bogus ending to Ronda Rousey's undefeated streak certainly sours the moment. But the painfully long show never feels longer than the drawn out confrontation between Elias and old school John Cena.
#19. Wrestlemania 2000
Highlight: Edge & Christian v.s. The Hardy Boyz v.s. The Dudley Boys
Lowlight: Terri Runnels v.s. The Kat
I really loved Wrestlemania 2000 when it actually happened. But it was also the first pay per view I ever saw live. And I was 12 years old. But looking back, Wrestlemania 2000 is way too aggressively horny. From The Godfather's ho train, Terri Runnels and The Kat as close to naked as you can get, Rikishi rubbing his giant ass in Tori's face and way too much bad innuendo (Al Snow's "head" gimmick, Trish Stratus' "T&A" tag team, The Kat's bad Austin Powers-like skit with Mae Young, and Jerry Lawler sounding way too lecherous describing any woman that comes near the ring). But what still holds up best is the incredible 3-way Tables Ladders and Chairs match between The Hardy Boys, Dudley Boys, and Edge and Christian that completely redefined the ladder match for generations to come. It's one of the best matches in Wrestlemania history. And the Hardcore Battle Royal was pretty enthralling, given how chaotic the constant title changes are. Plus the Fatal 4 Way for the World title also does a solid job of making up for the Stone Cold sized hole in the card while establishing Triple H as a worthy champion, despite all the unnecessary McMahon family drama attached.
#18. Wrestlemania XXIV
Highlight: Edge v.s. The Undertaker
Lowlight: Floyd Mayweather v.s. Big Show
Despite actually taking place in Orlando, the Miami themed outdoor atmosphere of Wrestlemania XXIV is pretty incredible, even if the action in the ring isn't. WM24 finds a return to random celebrity involvement as Kim Kardashian serves as the event's guest hostess (despite only delivering one interview and disappearing for the rest of the show until the main event), Snoop Dogg hosting the annual playboy creepfest (who sells an awkward kiss with the winner even worse than he sells his clothesline moments earlier), Raven Simone inexplicably popping up in the ring for a random charity and then Floyd Mayweather (5'8", 150 lbs) somehow winning a no DQ match against the Big Show (7', 450 lbs). Money in the Bank seems to have jumped the shark as the 7 man match turns into a series of 1 on 1 fights, Kane beats Chavo Guerrero in 11 seconds and Batista gets buried way too low in the card in a boring match against Umaga. On the plus side though, Ric Flair gets an emotional farewell match with Shawn Michaels, Edge and The Undertaker deliver a phenomenal main event and John Cena finally loses his first match at Wrestlemania in the triple threat match with HHH and Randy Orton. Not too shabby.
#17. Wrestlemania IV
Highlight: "Macho Man" Randy Savage v.s. "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase
Lowlight: Rick Rude and Jake "The Snake" Ends in a Time Out
I gotta say, conceptually, I love the idea of turning Wrestlemania into a self contained tournament for the World Heavyweight title. But with 14 contestants (do the math) you knew there was bound to be some disqualification fuckery going down. I just don't think anyone could have anticipated the Hogan v.s. Andre rematch ending with both men being disqualified from the tournament. Which kind of undercuts the validity of our tournament finalists when neither of them had to go through wrestling's two biggest superstars to win the title. These early Wrestlemanias ended way too many matches in unsatisfying DQs or countouts but it reached a ridiculous level here as only 5 of the 11 tournament match ups ended without a pinfall or submission. Worst of all being Rick Rude and Jake Roberts both being eliminated in the first round as their match reached the time limit. The hell? But the unexpected tournament style of crowning Randy Savage as the new champion lead to a phenomenal payoff, it just took way too many unmemorable matches to get there. If the tournament field had been whittled down to just 8 rather than 14, this could have been much better. I'd love for them to revisit this format someday.
#16. Wrestlemania XXV
Highlight: Triple H v.s. Randy Orton
Lowlight: Miss Wrestlemania Battle Royal
Wrestlemania 25 exhibits a disappointing inability of the WWE to develop any new talent as it's the 5th consecutive Mania to recycle the same half dozen headlining superstars in its' main events. Even Money in the Bank, once a great showcase for promising up and coming superstars, feels like it's permanently trapped Shelton Benjamin and CM Punk to never escape. And just when you think the WWE is about to honor their female competitors with a Miss WrestleMania Battle Royal, the match doesn't even get a proper introduction to showcase its' participants thanks to Kid Rock's 10 minute concert going long beforehand and then the match itself being won by Santina dressed in drag. Even stranger though, you get a Heath Ledger Joker inspired Rey Mysterio beating man jugs JBL in 20 seconds. And even stranger still, JBL spends 5 times his match length to awkwardly quit the WWE afterwards. But The Undertaker v.s. Shawn Michaels match and Triple H v.s. Randy Orton title bought definitely deliver even if most of the card - including the proposed Mickey Rourke v.s. Jericho showdown that's reduced to a brief after match encounter and John Cena botching an attempted double FU on a stacked Edge and Big Show - does not.
#15. Wrestlemania XXX
Highlight: Daniel Bryan's unlikely title win
Lowlight: The Vickie Guerrero Invitational
Following the formula of Wrestlemana's X and XX before it, XXX sets out to introduce a new generation of stars and does a pretty decent job of doing so, finally ditching the decade old rotation of Cena, Undertaker, HHH, and HBK from the main event. Well, Orton and Batista are back in, but having them lose the main event to Daniel Bryan was fairly shocking. Of course, not as shocking as the Undertaker's undefeated streak unceremoniously coming to an end at the hands of Brock Lesnar, but still. Bryan's got great energy although he seems to lack the charisma CM Punk brought to the ring and Punk's absence hovers over the proceedings of WMXXX like a thick cloud of smog. John Cena brings a surprising intensity to his middle card match against Bray Wyatt that we haven't seen from him in some time. But overall the matches are stretched way too long and the overuse of the quick zoom cameras has become nauseating. Literally. It's disorienting and makes me a little queasy. It was cool to see Hogan, Rock and Austin cut a meaningless promo together to open the show as well as the return of the New Age Outlaws but overall it's a decent Mania made memorable due to it's shocking results.
#14. Wrestlemania XXVI
Highlight: CM Punk as a straight edge heel
Lowlight: Vickie Guerrero
The title match between Batista and John Cena feels a couple years too late but nevertheless, Jericho and Edge come through with a remarkable title match and Shawn Michaels' dramatic send off at the hands of the Undertaker fills out a pretty solid Wrestlemania. McMahon sours the proceedings once again by inserting himself into another match with a geriatric superstar, this time pitting himself against a beyond washed Bret Hart, who can barely even perform the sharpshooter in this debacle that essentially just consists of Hart beating McMahon with a chair for 10 minutes. But it still wasn't as painful to watch as the 10 diva tag match just to let Vickie Guerrero perform a frog splash (which Michael Cole cruelly calls a "hog splash"). The standout to me though is CM Punk turning full heel as a self righteous straight edge villain against Rey Mysterio (whose yearly themed outfit this time hilariously pays homage to Avatar). But as good of a match as it was, it does feel like a missed opportunity in not letting Michaels retire by ending The Undertaker's streak.
#13. Wrestlemania XIX
Highlight: The Rock v.s. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
Lowlight: Fatal 4 Way Pillow Fight
Wrestlemania XIX feels like the last gasp of the golden age of professional wrestling. On one hand you have what feels like the first legitimate Women's Championship Match in who knows how long between Trish Stratus (whose really developed as an actual wrestler), Victoria, and Jazz while hours later we find ourselves staring at a four-way lingerie pillow fight that ends with the 4 divas teaming up to ankle Jonathan Coachman. Then a year after Hogan held his own against The Rock, we're lead to believe a roided out Vince McMahon can keep up with Hulkamania when Vince couldn't even beat his scrawny ass son Shane? Shawn Michaels makes his Wrestlemania return in a phenomenal match against Chris Jericho and The Rock v.s. Austin III was a great way to see 2 legends end their Wrestlemania reign. But the main event was absolutely baffling. Angle v.s. Lesnar started out as an incredible match but when Lesnar decided to take to the top rope rather than pinning his opponent after delivering his signature F5 finisher to botch an inexplicable shooting star press, it's as if you could see the future of the WWE crush under Lesnar's temple as he flopped onto his face. And yet he still reached over and covered Angle for the win?
#12. Wrestlemania XXXIV
Highlight: Seth Rollins v.s. The Miz v.s. Finn Balor
Lowlight: Brock Lesnar v.s. Roman Reigns
Wrestlemania XXXIV starts off at a break neck pace with an incredible triple threat Intercontinental championship match between Seth Rollins, The Miz and Finn Balor, an impressive Women's showcase between Charlotte Flair and Asuka for the Women's championship and a fatal 4 way featuring Jinder Mahal, Randy Orton, Bobby Roode and Rusev for the United States championship leading into Ronda Rousey's emotional WWE debut. Rousey looks genuinely humbled and honored by the crowd response and even though WWE couldn't secure the Rock as her tag partner (as was set up 3 years prior at Wrestlemania XXXI) the crowd never quite recaptures the same energy after this match ends. We get another feel good moment with Daniel Bryan's long awaited return to the ring but after that, AJ Styles and Nakamura suck the air out of the arena with their slow and lumbering title match. And the WWE now has so many belts that Braun Strowman gives his second Tag Team Championship belt to a random 10 year old kid he picks out of the crowd. Which is honestly pretty cool. The Lesnar / Reigns main event is littered with "This Is Awful" and "Boring" chants from the restless crowd as the sloppy match drags the event crawling to it's disappointing finish.
#11. Wrestlemania VIII
Highlight: Bret Hart v.s. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
Lowlight: Big Boss Man, Virgil, Sgt. Slaughter, & Jim Duggan v.s. The Nasty Boys, Mountie & Repo Man
If you thought Wrestlemania VII missed a huge opportunity by passing on Warrior v.s. Hogan II in favor of Sgt. Slaughter, Wrestlemania VIII goes even further to prove Vince's prioritization of Hulkamania over Wrestlemania. Rather than booking the Hogan v.s. Flair match up everyone was dying to see after The Nature Boy finally came into the WWF from the NWA, Hogan was curiously pitted against Sid Justice in the main event instead while yet again, Randy Savage reaped the benefits by filling in and taking on Hogan's would be opponent (same as he did against Ultimate Warrior the previous year) for the Heavyweight title in the middle of the lineup. But once Savage and Flair's World title match ends, the rest of the card falls off HARD. Wrestlemania VIII kicks off with young Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, and Bret Hart all securing quality victories over established vets while the latter half of the evening sees Ted DiBiase lose in another signature walk off countout, 90 seconds of Owen Hart against some dude named "Skinner" and the main event ending in a botched finish in which Harvey Wippleman interferes after Papa Shango misses his cue to do so himself, giving Hogan the win by disqualification. It's a tale of two halves, the future of WWF shining bright in the early go of things while the past drags the finish to a lackluster finale.
#10. Wrestlemania XXIX
Highlight: CM Punk v.s. The Undertaker
Lowlight: Jack Swagger and Zeb Coulter's White Pride Angle
Welp, that "Once in a Lifetime" tagline for Wrestlemania XXVIII didn't age very well, did it? And while the main event rematch of Cena v.s. Rock doesn't quite live up to the previous year's spectacle, an infusion of inspired young talent like Ryback, The Shield and Daniel Bryan keep the show afloat. But there is one particularly cringe-worthy match, not in it's execution but it's outside the ring storyline surrounding the anti-immigrant, xenophobic white pride angle for Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter. Maybe I'm just a little too close to Trump's presidency to see the humor in WWE being able to foreshadow our current political climate back in 2013 but for a company that often toes the line in racial exploitation, this one feels particularly yucky and honestly kind of despicable. At least they let Alberto Del Rio win I guess? Oh, and the overly theatrical entrances of Triple H finally caught up to him this year as he walked too close to his skull prop and got a bunch of fog foam all over his tummy. That's one hell of a Wrestlemania moment. As is CM Punk's match with The Undertaker. It's a shame Punk never got to main event Wrestlemania in his prime because he's got a stretch of truly remarkable matches on his resume, this one perhaps being his best.
#9. Wrestlemania III
Highlight: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat v.s. "Macho Man" Randy Savage
Lowlight: Hillbilly Jim, Haiti Kid & Little Beaver v.s. King Kong Bundy, Little Tokyo & Lord Littlebrook
It took a couple of years of fine tuning but Wrestlemania III finally feels like the world wide spectacle Vince McMahon promised with Wrestlemania. The iconic image of Hulk Hogan body slamming the 7'4" 520 pound Andre the Giant will forever live on as one of the most prolific images in professional wrestling. And even though the historical significance of Hulkamania's "irresistible force meeting the immovable object" ending Andre's 15 year undefeated streak is what most will remember Wrestlemania III for, the best match of the night actually belongs to Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat and "Macho Man" Randy Savage. Andre and Hogan brought the star power but technically speaking, the match itself is pretty slow and uneventful. Steamboat and Savage on the other hand deliver one of the most fast paced, technically sound matches in Wrestlemania history. On the downside there's a goofy 6 man tag match with Hillbilly Jim and King Kong Bundy teamed up with 4 little people as well as dopey ass Jim Duggan beating the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff with his signature 2x4 leading a gross "U.S.A.!" chant. But we also get the original hair v.s. hair match in Roddy Piper's "farewell" with Adrian Adonis, giving birth to Brutus Beefcake's hedge clipper wielding "Butcher" gimmick. Maybe most importantly though, WM3 finally dials back the celebrity cameos and lets the in-ring talent shine as the true stars of the evening.
#8. Wrestlemania X
Highlight: Shawn Michaels v.s. "Razor Ramon" Scott Hall
Lowlight: Fake Bill Clinton
The first Wrestlemania without it's poster boy, Hulk Hogan, does a great job of establishing Bret Hart as the new face of company in both his surprisingly captivating opening match against his brother Owen and his long awaited title win over Yokozuna. But perhaps starting the rivalry that would encapsulate the WWF for the next several years, Shawn Michaels steals the show in an absolutely legendary ladder match with Scott Hall for the Intercontinental Championship. There's some time management issues stemming from Randy Savage and Crush's long match winding through Madison Square Garden and a head scratching appearance from a Bill Clinton impersonator causing Earthquake's match to last just 35 seconds and the scheduled 10 man tag match to be scrapped altogether but if you didn't get your tag match fill from the ridiculously fun Doink and Dink match, I don't know what to tell you. Wrestlemania X is an incredible paradigm shift for the company as the WWF proves it can continue to thrive without having to lean on it's stars of yesteryear.
#7. Wrestlemania XXI
Highlight: Shawn Michaels v.s. Kurt Angle
Lowlight: Eugene, Mohammed Hassan, Hulk Hogan
After Wrestlemania XX failed to live up to the promise of ushering in a new era for the WWE, Wrestlemania 21 comes through on that promise by pitting legend killer Randy Orton against The Undertaker in Taker's best Mania match since fighting his brother Kane at WMXIV, John Cena winning his first WWE title against JBL and Batista becoming a legitimate superstar in conquering Triple H in the main event. The show's only real missteps come when Wrestlemania veers away from wrestling - namely Big Show's 60 second sumo wrestling match and the ultra dated Iraqi war propaganda interlude as Hulk Hogan struts in the ring to his "I Am a Real American" 80's entrance music while defending the "slow" Eugene from a middle eastern stereotype named Mohammed. Yikes. But the pinnacle match between Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle is an all timer. Not to mention the debut of one of WWE's most innovative matches, the Money in the Bank ladder match. The in ring product is top notch, even if the extra circular stuff occasionally drags the show down.
#6. Wrestlemania XXVIII
Highlight: CM Punk v.s. Chris Jericho
Lowlight: Sheamus v.s. Daniel Bryan
The outdoor Miami crowd gathered for the main event of John Cena v.s. The Rock is absolutely electric and The Rock's surprise victory ends the night in phenomenal fashion. But yet again, it's CM Punk who steals the show in his incredible WWE title match with Chris Jericho. The self proclaimed "End of an Era" Undertaker v.s. Triple H rematch can't quite live up to the previous year's bought but nothing is as disappointing here as the opening Heavyweight championship match where Daniel Bryan makes his Wrestlemania debut losing his title to Sheamus in 18 seconds. 18 FUCKING SECONDS. But we also get some redemption matches for perennial punching bags Big Show and Kane who finally get some quality victories on wrestling's biggest stage this time around. It's a short but sweet card, ultimately successful because the main event, a year in the making, is somehow able to live up to the unimaginable hype. Which is staggering. Hogan and Cena have a lot of parallels in their respective careers but Hogan never had a main event match that popped like this. It's technically proficient and sensationally captivating - maybe the last truly great Wrestlemania main event we've seen.
#5. Wrestlemania XIII
Highlight: Bret Hart v.s. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
Lowlight: Shawn Michaels sitting out due to an "injury" (?)
It was great to finally see The Undertaker win the title at Wrestlemania 13 but doing it against a dumpy opponent like Sid kind of takes away some of the impact. Especially with the weird tension ring side as Shawn Michaels calls the title match from the announcer's table after having to forfeit the title (and most likely his spot in the main event) just months prior due to injury. Or as Lawler and Vince seem to insinuate - "injury". The Chicago Street Brawl was a solid showcase for Legion of Doom and Ahmed Johnson but the most memorable moment of the night obviously comes from Bret Hart and Steve Austin's submission match. It's arguably THE best match in Wrestlemania history. It's a brutal changing of the guard moment as Hart is still clinging to his place at the top of the company while Austin launches passed him into superstardom as a direct result of this match, even while technically losing. It's an absolutely iconic moment and one that changed the industry forever. Sending Bret in search of greener pastures at WCW and the WWF rallying behind it's new spit in the face of tradition, ass kicking, beer guzzling everyman.
#4. Wrestlemania XII
Highlight: Shawn Michaels v.s. Bret Hart
Lowlight: Triple H v.s. The Ultimate Warrior
The 60 minute Shawn Michaels v.s. Bret Hart Iron Man match is absolutely legendary. Sure it's long (that's kind of the point) but for these two athletes to commit to an hour long bought giving their absolute all is a sensational showcase of endurance, the likes of which we'll likely never see again. Two of the best to ever do it at the pinnacle of their careers leaving it all on the mat and still managing to deliver a riveting finish after taking the crowd on an hour long stale mate is an industry achievement like no other. The undercard is a little thin as a result of dedicating an entire hour to the main event but The Undertaker's match with Kevin Nash is a sneaky great lead in and one of Taker's best and most underrated Mania moments. Roddy Piper's street fight with Golddust recreating the O.J. highway chase was cheesy fun and a great way to see Piper get one last Wrestlemania push. The only real low point is Ultimate Warrior's return after a 4 year hiatus to pin Triple H in 80 seconds, only to leave the WWF yet again 4 months later.
#3. Wrestlemania XVIII
Highlight: The Rock v.s. "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan
Lowlight: Saliva & Drowning Pool Concerts
The first Wrestlemania to fully integrate the newly acquired WCW roster, Wrestlemania XVIII does a pretty decent job of utilizing the new talent. Motorcycle step-dad Undertaker beating up on fossilized Ric Flair doesn't really work but Booker T, RVD, and DDP all have solid Mania debuts. And while on the surface Austin v.s. Hall might seem like a mismatch, Scott Hall actually delivers a great performance and sells the Stone Cold Stunner absolutely beautifully as Nash and Hall's long awaited return to the WWF is handled marvelously with a beating at the hands of The Texas Rattlesnake. The only glaring weak spots (outside of the problematic treatment of Stacy Keibler) are the cringey Drowning Pool and Saliva concerts. But the thing everyone will remember X8 for is the iconic showdown between "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan and The Rock. The crowd reaction alone is fascinating, as the entire arena seems to turn back the clock and run wild with Hulkamania. So much so that Hogan stays in the ring after being pinned to try and sway the crowd back into appreciating the Rock and silence the resurrected "Rocky Sucks!" chants. I know Cena v.s. Rock is labeled "Once in a Lifetime" (despite happening twice in a row) but Hogan v.s. The Rock feels like the rightful owner of that title.
#2. Wrestlemania XVII
Highlight: Edge & Christian v.s. The Hardy Boyz v.s. The Dudley Boys
Lowlight: Right to Censor
After Wrestlemania 2000 it seems there was a concentrated effort to restore some integrity to WWF's most prestigious event and it paid off immensely. Other than the general annoyance of the Right to Censor gimmick, there really isn't a lull in this jam packed event. Guerrero, Jericho, Angle and Benoit carry the undercard and while I had 0 interest in another Shane McMahon match at Wrestlemania, he closes his match against his father by performing one of the most impressive maneuvers I've ever seen in jumping the length of the ring to dropkick a trash can into Vince's face (never mind the fact he tried to recreate it 5x at subsequent Wrestlemanias). We have a rematch of Wrestlemania 2000's TLC tag match bringing even bigger death defying ladder stunts to the ring followed by a nostalgic overload with "Mean" Gene Okerlund and "The Brain" Bobby Heenan calling a gimmick Battle Royal showcasing historic WWF alumni of yesteryear. Then we have the main event, where we finally got the Austin v.s. Rock showdown worthy of a Wrestlemania showcase and while I wasn't crazy about the way it ended, it's definitely the best match that these two industry icons ever had.
#1. Wrestlemania XIV
Highlight: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin v.s. Shawn Michaels
Lowlight: Goldust & Luna Vachon v.s. Marc Mero & Sable
Not only does Wrestlemania XIV officially usher in the Attitude Era of the late '90s but it's also the best start to finish Wrestlemania there is. The only real weak spot is the mixed tag match trying to put Sable over, despite the fact that she's not all that talented in the ring. Outside of that you have an incredible singles bought between Triple H and Owen Hart, what I thought was going to be a star making performance from Ken Shamrock (turns out the guy he beat would become just a tad more famous), Cactus Jack & Terry Funk in a dumpster match with The New Age Outlaws, The Undertaker in his long awaited showdown with Kane and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin tears the roof off the joint in his passing of the torch moment, capturing the World Heavyweight Title from Shawn Michaels in one of the best main events in Wrestlemania history. Even the celebrity tie-ins with Mike Tyson and Pete Rose play out beautifully, enhancing the experience rather than distracting from it. The crowd is absolutely electric and Austin's title win signifies the start of a golden age in the WWF as Vince finally started to win back the pro wrestling majority from WCW in the lauded Monday Night Wars.
The Top 20 Matches in Wrestlemania History
#20. Triple H v.s. Owen Hart (Wrestlemania XIV)
#19. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper v.s. Bret Hart (Wrestlemania VIII)
#18. The Ultimate Warrior v.s. "Macho Man" Randy Savage (Wrestlemania VII)
#17. Bret Hart v.s. Owen Hart (Wrestlemania X)
#16. Shawn Michaels v.s. The Undertaker (Wrestlemania XXVI)
#15. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin v.s. The Rock (Wrestlemania XIX)
#14. Triple H v.s. The Undertaker (Wrestlemania XXVII)
#13. CM Punk v.s. Chris Jericho (Wrestlemania XXVIII)
#12. Edge v.s. The Undertaker (Wrestlemania XXIV)
#11. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin v.s. The Rock (Wrestlemania XVII)
#10. Edge & Christian v.s. The Hardy Boyz v.s. The Dudley Boys (Wrestlemania 2000)
#9. Edge v.s. Mick Foley (Wrestlemania XXII)
#8. The Rock v.s. "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan (Wrestlemania XVIII)
#7. Shawn Michaels v.s. Kurt Angle (Wrestlemania XXI)
#6. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat v.s. "Macho Man" Randy Savage (Wrestlemania III)
#5. Shawn Michaels v.s. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin (Wrestlemania XIV)
#4. Shawn Michaels v.s. Bret Hart (Wrestlemania XII)
#3. Edge & Christian v.s. The Hardy Boyz v.s. The Dudley Boys (Wrestlemania XVII) #2. Shawn Michaels v.s. "Razor Ramon" Scott Hall (Wrestlemania X)
#1. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin v.s. Bret Hart (Wrestlemania XIII)